The spotlight is on young people’s mental health like never before. But if you need help, it’s still much too hard to find. Now in our 25th year, we are leading the fight for children and young people’s mental health. Help us raise £2.5 million’.

This event has been created and produced by StageDog, a production and event support company based in Teesdale. StageDog, and everyone else in the show, are providing their time free of charge, to maximise the amount raised for YOUNGMiNDS – a charity that is ‘leading the fight for a future where all young minds are supported and empowered whatever the challenges’.

The theme of the show is a journey through the emotions that we all experience, young and old, with music and dance that will help us to explore the ‘shadow’ side of life, and plenty more to help us celebrate the ‘light’.

As any regular visitor to the Witham will know, Teesdale has a vibrant performing arts community. This show, 9 months in preparation, is rooted in that community and represents a unique collaboration between 3 groups:

Euphoria are a 35-strong community rock choir and band (keyboard, guitars, bass and drums) who started out in early 2017 under the leadership of Amy Foster. In that time Euphoria have performed at Christmas markets in Durham and at the Bowes Museum, at several Teesdale venues, and at weddings.

The choir’s repertoire includes rock and pop songs from the 1960s to the present day - Queen, Adele, ELO, Coldplay, Pink, James Bay, REM, Green Day and more.

Amy also leads the youth choir ‘Youthphoria’ – numbering around 20 and ranging in age from 6 to 15, they will be contributing a couple of songs to the show.

We’re very excited to be featuring young solo singers from Teesdale School in the show. Some of these singers will already be familiar to local audiences, especially those who came to Andrew Lloyd Webber’s School of Rock earlier this year. Some of these young singers will be performing solos, some duets and some will be joining with Euphoria.

Melanie Edmenson School of Dance has been running in Barnard Castle for many years. Melanie currently teaches around 150 students, with Royal Academy of Dance Ballet and IDTA Theatre syllabus classes for children and adults. In Barnard Castle Melanie is based at the Hub, and some of her students will be performing specially created choreography in this show.